A reliable and popular video game hardware insider and leaker is now claiming that it will cost Sony around $900 to manufacture a PlayStation 6. And with the company recently signalling it isn’t planning to sell new hardware at a substantial loss, and another hardware analyst saying a delay is unlikely and wouldn’t even help, it sure seems like sometime next year Sony will be selling a $900+ PlayStation 6 console.
Over the weekend, reliable leaker KeplerL2 shared on the NeoGaf forums that the cost of producing a single PlayStation 6 had gone up by around $200 since they last shared the next-gen machine’s reported bill of materials (BOM), aka how much all the parts and pieces inside the console cost when added up. That represents a roughly 30 percent increase in the PS6’s BOM since KeplerL2 last reported on that figure, which back in March was reportedly around $750. And it should be noted that a BOM doesn’t include labor, shipping, and retailer cuts of console sales. So that reported $900-ish BOM for the PS6 isn’t including all of the money Sony will have to invest into each machine to get it out the door and into a store or gamer’s home.
With all that in mind, many are assuming that if nothing changes regarding RAM prices by 2027, the PlayStation 6 might launch at around $900 or more. In fact, it’s very likely it launches at more than $900, likely above $1,000 even, as Sony has explained that it has no intention to sell hardware at a large loss moving forward.
“As a principle, we do not intend to sell hardware at significant losses,” said Sony in a recent Q&A with investors. “At the same time, we are carefully monitoring the market and continuing to evaluate our approach.”
This answer’s wording is very precise, as Sony isn’t saying it intends to sell future hardware like the PS6 at a price point that will make it money. It still expects to either break even or lose money on every new PlayStation 6 console sold. But it’s clear that Sony ain’t going to spend $900-1,000+ on making, shipping, and selling a PS6 and then slap a $600 price tag on it unless “the market” changes in some big ways between now and the reported launch window of 2027.
In response to this news, a lot of people online have suggested or speculated that Sony will delay the PS6’s launch out of 2027 and into 2028. It certainly seems like a lot of people online aren’t excited for a PlayStation 6 and/or can’t even afford a hypothetical $850 to $1,200 next-gen machine. But, as pointed out by hardware analyst and YouTuber Moore’s Law Is Dead, delaying the PS6 doesn’t make any sense.
“One more thing about PS6 launching in 2027 – the ACTUAL primary reason for not delaying the console is because 2027 is when the price and performance will be best regardless of price,” said Moore’s Law on Twitter.
“Let’s say RAM prices drop – great, now [Sony] have a super powerful console for $599. Okay, let’s say RAM prices skyrocket and Sony has to sell it for $849 without a disc drive – whatever, 2027 is still going to be the year of AMD RDNA 5! Even at elevated pricing, that’s the year it looks the least overpriced before new GPUs come out from the RTX 60 Series. Price go up, price go down, it doesn’t matter! The PS6 will be at its best price/performance when its tech is New. Whether that’s at $849 or $599.”
Kepler explained similarly, saying that if “prices keep going up, then delaying is actually worse than releasing it ASAP. If prices are stable, then there’s no point in delaying it. If prices go down in 2028 or 2029, they can lower the price as they did with the PS3; the only downside is initial sales in 2027/2028 would be lower than normal.”
The insider also explained that the specs of the PS6 have been locked in for years now, so even if it delays the next-gen machine’s release (which again is not likely), don’t expect it to suddenly become more powerful. In fact, as explained by both leakers, delaying the PS6 would just make it look older and less worth the money, something Sony wants to avoid.
Sony finds itself in a strange spot. Many gamers are clearly not ready for a PlayStation 6 or even excited about it due to high tech prices. But delaying the PS6 would only make the device become less valuable, and if DRAM gets more expensive, which is very possible, a delay might actually see the price go up.
Ultimately, assuming the reported 2027 window is accurate, I think Sony releases the PS6 next year as planned and hopes that it can lower the price in the future, assuming RAM prices normalize. And if we enter 2027 and it seems clear things are going to get worse, I’d probably recommend buying a PS6 then instead of waiting for a price drop that might never come.
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